Impressive demonstration of how to get a brake shoe to consistently contact the drum at more than one point. It took quite a contraption to accomplish it. Frankly, I liked those old manual brakes over power brakes because in those days, you needed to brake carefully/variably lest your noggin go flying through the windshield (no seat belts).

Whoever designed the PT Cruiser must've used that car waiting at the railroad crossing near the beginning of this film as the prototype - looks just like it.

This 30s Jam Handy film tells us way more than you want to know about how brakes work and why Chevrolet breaks are the best. Its very straightforward and didactic, with the narrator getting way too excited about friction at various points. Theres little of the usual Jam Handy wackiness here, but it does teach you about brakes and give you some great visuals of streets and highways in the 30s.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.

It may be blatant advertising for Chevrolet vehicles, but Facts on Friction provides an interesting study of early automobile brake mechanics. The curious scene towards the end of the film with the "300-pound man" is something that one won't find in modern car commercials!

Early Jam Handy short about brakes and friction soesnt really hold up, excuse the pun. Although the narrator is very ethusiasitc about the whole thing, the subject of brakes and how Chevrolet Is God by making the best brake anywhere seems to dry up really quickly. Nice animation though.